This is a black and white photograph of John Burroughs and John Muir .copyright F. P. C., signed "Clatworthy". On the back of the frame it states "The Two Johnnies" "John of Birds" and "John of Mountains." "John Burroughs, age 72, and John Muir, age 70, taken in Yosemite by Fred Payne Clatworthy, who had the good fortune to spend a week with them in this beautiful park in May, 1909. On the trail to Nevada Falls they rested for a few minutes at the base of a baby redwood tree.

 Said John of Mountains to John of Birds -'See that valley below us -that is the effect of a glacier.'

Said John of Birds, who thought his partner made too much of the glaciers, 'Yes, if a bumble bee would alight on yonder rock there would be some effect.' As they both laughed at this retort, the shutter clicked.".

John Burrough, 1837-1921, was a famous American naturalist described here as 'John of Birds'. John Muir, 1838-1914, has been described as a "Scottish American polymath", but as a geologist, he is called here 'John of Mountains'. He is noted for his work in promoting and describing the Yosemite area, and frequently accompanied famous visitors to see the delights of this area.

The following extracts from 'My Road to Rotary' by Paul P Harris are from Chapters 31 and 32:

Harry C Pullman, from Louisville, (who later became Chairman of the National Baseball League) and Paul became chums and decided to work their way through the State of California. Within a few days, they were doing manual labour on a fruit ranch in the Vaca Valley. Later they explored the now famous but then little known Yosemite Valley.

They spent nine months in California. From other information contained in the two chapters it seems most likely that their period in California (including Yosemite) was in 1891 (after July) or 1892

Further on in 'My Road', Paul Harris quotes John Burroughs at length.

John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an essayist and inductee into the Ecology Hall of Fame.  At his rustic cabin 'Slabsides', not far from the Hudson, which he built, with his son in 1895, he entertained many famous visitors, including Theodore Roosevelt. He was a friend of John Muir,  who was also an inductee into the Ecology Hall of Fame, while Theodore Roosevelt was President of the Ecology Hall of Fame.  He was also President of the United States from 14th September 1901 to 1909.

In his Autobiography, Theodore Roosevelt in 1913 in his chapter 'Outdoors and Indoors' he mentions correspondence with John Burroughs, various meetings and a trip that both men made to Yellowstone Park (in 1905). In the same autobiography he also mentions the first trip (1903?) that he made to Yosemite accompanied by John Muir.  He commented "I shall always be glad that I was in Yosemite with John Muir and in the Yellowstone with John Burroughs".

Clearly Burroughs and Muir were both associated with Yosemite, and Harris had good memories of this area from his earlier visit. This probably accounts for the inclusion of the picture in the Gallery.

We thank PDG Ian Campbell, for this piece.

Edited by Basil Lewis. 

This ongoing project is the work of RGHF historian Basil Lewis, first posted 7 April 2006 This section is maintained by RGHF webmaster Paul D. McLain. If you can help identify or supply more information about anything on this page, please contact us at www.historycomment.org

We acknowledge the assistance of DG 11/12 David Templin, ROTARY/One (RGHF Member), Neil Dahlmann of Rotary Club of Highland Park in District 6440, and Jack Selway, USA, with providing photos used in this section.

After you see the museum office, meet his partners and office workers at Harris Dodds & Brown. (A page of photographs of the actual office in the early 2000's)

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